Book Description

Since its foundation, the Sadberk Hanim Museum has continued to expand the core collection that belonged to Badberk Koç with the finest examples of Ottoman period embroidery. The result is an outstanding embroidery collection consisting of nearly two thousand pieces dating from the 17th to 20th centuries. Embroidery is one of the oldest decorative arts and in the Ottoman period was used on very diverse objects ranging from clothing and domestic textiles to military equipment. As a result embroidery developed into a professional craft whose artisans produced exquisite work of high artistic merit. Finely worked embroidery in beautiful designs and colour schemes were produced with patience, skill and creativity.

The Skill of the Hand, Delight of the Eye exhibition and accompanying catalogue features 167 examples of different types embroidered in a variety of techniques, selected to illustrate the rich diversity of embroidered articles that were an essential part of Ottoman life. They cover a period of nearly three hundred years and show the changes in technique, style and design that took place between 17th and 20th centuries.